Improvement in horse hay-forks



w; E. DERRICK. I Horse Hay-Fork;

Patented Nov. 24, 1868.

N PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTO abated WILLIA E; DE BRICK, or JORDAN, NEW YO K.

Letters Patent No. 84,269, dated November 24, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAY-FORKS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part: of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. DERRICK, of J ordan, in the State of New York, have invented anew and useful Ha v Fork and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, rnaking part of this specification, in which 'a suitable distance from this slide, a lever, E, pivoted to them, the long end of which is also hinged to a slide,

F, and the short end to .one end of a connecting-link, G, which is, at the other end, hinged to a slide, H.

Through the centre of slides H, D, and F, an open ing is made, through which the straight piercing-shaft O'is inserted loosely, so that it will move freely.

The points of the prongs B are caused to move in 5 or out, by being thus connected to the sliding head H when it is moved vertically.

The sliding head H is provided with a projection", J, in which a lever, K, is pivoted.

The inner end oft-hislever Kis cam-shaped, as shown in fig. 1, for the purpose of holding the piercing-shaft O at any desirable point in. regard to the prongs B, and the outer end is pierced, to receive the tripping-cord P:

The piercing-shaft O has on its upper end a ring, L, to which a rope, S, isattached, to raise it by.

Near the lower end I insert a pin, a, to keep it from slipping out of the slides. I

On the slide H, I provide a projection, N, on which the foot of the operator may be placed to press the fork into the hay.

Its operation is as follows:

The slides H, D, and F are pressed together, which throws the prongs B outward, and level: K upward, as indicated in the drawing by dotted lines.

The piercing-shaft O is then pressed down into the hay until the ring L is at or near the slide H.

The lever K is then pressed down, as shown in full lines, fig. 1, and clamps the sliding head H rigidly to the piercing-shaft O.

The prongs B are then closed, and clasp the hay, in which action they may be assisted by the operator placing his foot on the projection N.

The fork, with the hay, being raised by the rope S, the operator raises the lever K, by the cord P, which relieves the pressure of the cam, and, by slacking up the rope I, the sliding head H settles downward, and the prongs .B expand, as shovm in dotted lines, fig. 1, and the hay is discharged.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i The caliper-shaped prongs B, in combination with the straight piercing-shaft O, for the purpose herein described.

WILLIAJML E. DERRICK.

Witnesses:

'JAS. LORENZO GAGE,

A. D. PEoK. 

